University of Wisconsin-River Falls
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Sociology, Criminology, And Anthropology
The University of Wisconsin River Falls, a member of the University of Wisconsin System, is located in scenic west central Wisconsin, 30 miles from the multi-cultural, multi-ethnic cities of Minneapolis and St Paul. Year-round arts, cultural, and recreational events are easily accessible from River Falls. UWRF’s 6,100 undergraduate and graduate students pursue degrees in four colleges: Arts and Sciences, Education and Professional Studies, Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, and Business and Economics.
The University provides an excellent environment for learning, emphasizing the importance of faculty-student interaction in classrooms, laboratories, academic advising, and co-curricular activities. A favorable student-faculty ratio affords opportunity for meaningful interchange between faculty and students. Strong interests in teaching, research, and community service are highly valued. More information about UWRF can be found at: http://www.uwrf.edu/workhere/.
The Position:
The University of Wisconsin – River Falls invites applications for a tenure-track teaching position (100% teaching appointment) at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Anthropology. This is a nine-month, full-time academic position. Opportunities exist to pursue optional summer employment through teaching, research grants, and other funding sources. Anticipated Appointment date: August 24, 2026.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
- Teaching load is 12 credits per semester.
- Primary course responsibilities include introductory and advanced criminology courses, with an emphasis on courses related to policing/law enforcement.
- Teach courses that complement and extend departmental offerings based on educational background, interests, and departmental needs, including statistics and research methods.
- New curricular initiatives may include the development of undergraduate courses and on-line courses as appropriate.
- Serve as an academic advisor to undergraduate students within the department.
- Participate in faculty governance and service activities at the departmental, college, and university levels.
- Engage in scholarly activity. Such activities are broadly defined and may address the scholarship of research within the field of expertise, the scholarship of teaching, or similar activities.
Job Environment: The department currently has six tenured or tenure-track faculty, with a total of seven FTE. The department is one of 16 within the College of Arts and Sciences. The department offers two majors in sociology and criminology and a minor in anthropology.
Compensation: Commensurate with experience and academic qualifications.
Qualifications Required:
- PhD in Criminology, Criminal Justice, or in Sociology with a specialization in Criminology/ Criminal Justice is required by August of 2026. ABD candidates with a Master’s degree are encouraged to apply.
- Strong interest in and ability to teach introductory and advanced undergraduate courses in criminology and criminal justice, with an emphasis on courses related to policing/law enforcement.
- Ability to teach statistics and research methods courses.
- Strong, effective oral and written communication skills.
- Potential for or demonstrated expertise in university teaching.
- Potential for or demonstrated research, scholarly, and/or creative activity.
Materials not submitted through https://jobs.uwrf.edu/ cannot be considered. Submit four individual documents. The four documents are listed below:
- A letter of interest specifying qualifications and experience.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Unofficial graduate transcripts. (Official copies of transcripts will be required if hired.)
- The names, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least three references who can specifically comment on the applicant’s abilities as they relate to the qualification specified above.
Inquiries should be addressed to:
Dr. Melissa Hayslip, Search Committee Chair and Professor
Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Anthropology
melissa.hayslip@uwrf.edu
Deadline to Apply: Review of Applications will begin on JANUARY 12, 2026. For full consideration, completed applications must be received by the review date. A criminal background check will be completed on the final candidates.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
UWRF is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer subject to all state and federal regulations pertaining to non-discrimination based upon sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, marital status, age, arrest and/or conviction record, veteran status, and membership in the national guard, state defense force, or any other reserve component of the military forces of the United States or the State of Wisconsin. All persons, especially women, persons of color, people with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. Employment is subject to federal laws that require verification of your identity and legal right to work in the United States as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act.
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, can be viewed at https://www.uwrf.edu/Police/Annual-Security-Report.cfm or call University Police at 715-425-3133 for a paper copy.”